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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348060030466 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE <infofmf1@tiscali.de>
Reply-To: professorcharles_1961@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 01:56:24 +0100 (CET)
Subject: ATTENTION HONOURABLE CONTRACTOR



FROM THE HONOURABLE OFFICE OF THE

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
ABUJA NIGERIA.


IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009

Dear Contractor

From the records of outstanding contractors due for payment with the federal government of Nigeria. Your name and company was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their payments.
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter.Also note that from my record in my file your outstanding contract payment is us$65.7 million dollars (sixty five million seven hundred thousand united states dollars). Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your record and also re-confirm to me the followings for record verification and proper documentation to avoid future embarassment.
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) company name,position and address.
4)profession, age and marital status.
5) Copy of int'l passport.
As soon as this informations are received, your payment will be made to you through telegraphic wire transfer(i.e)bank to bank transfer from central bank of Nigeria.You are advise to contact the Governor central bank of nigeria Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo on his direct telephone number +234-806-003-0466 or email address professorcharles_1961@yahoo.com.He is the only person to transfer your money.
Best Regards,





YOURS SINCERELY,
MRS NENADI USMAN
HONOURABLE MINISTER FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam